A Gentle King Who Makes Peace
Centuries before Jesus, the prophet Zechariah had spoken to a defeated, downtrodden Israel, promising a king who would come not in power or might but humbly, on a donkey. That king would establish peace, not by force, but by the Spirit.
When the crowds welcomed Jesus during his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, convinced He was this king, they hoped He would overthrow Rome and restore Israel's independence. But Jesus didn’t meet their expectations. Instead of raising a sword, He surrendered peacefully. He endured mockery, injustice, and the cross with humility and love.
Jesus wasn’t just any king; He was the King who makes peace—peace between God and humanity and, through Him, peace among people. His kingdom isn't about power plays or revenge but about reconciliation and grace.
Jesus' gentle reign challenges us to love even our enemies, just as he loved us.
The Mission of God
All of our lives are spent on something.
Most people spend their days focused on growing a family, building a career, or amassing possessions. While none of those things are necessarily wrong, they can become distractions from our ultimate goal in life.
In the book of Acts, we see Paul’s transformation in Christ. As a result of meeting Jesus and being changed by His grace, Paul spends the rest of his life preaching the good news of Jesus.
For Paul, God’s grace and salvation were so great that nothing on this earth could compare to doing His work.
Paul said that nothing in his life mattered as much as telling others about God’s grace. His goal in life was to finish his own race well by faithfully accomplishing as much of the mission of God as possible:
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace."
Acts 20:24 NIV
The mission of ...